THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Western Caribbean / Cozumel Cruise Port and why I wasn’t a Fan!

Day 1: Embarkation
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: Roatan | Honduras
Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico
Day 5: Cozumel | Mexico
Day 6: At Sea
Day 7: Ocean Cay Marine Reserve

And in case you missed it, see what we did on the MSC World America Eastern Caribbean

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cozumel Cruise Port: My Honest Take (And Why I Wasn’t a Fan)

Every cruise itinerary has that one port everyone raves about, the one with the postcard perfect water and the diving reputation that precedes it. For us, that was the Cozumel cruise port. And look, I wanted to love it. I really did. But I’m not here to write you a glossy brochure. I’m here to tell you what actually happened when we docked, because that’s the whole point of this blog.

So buckle up, because this is the port where my patience, my tolerance for heat were all tested at the same time.

New to Cruising? Don’t miss my informational articles below so you can get sailing!

• Ultimate Cruise Packing Guide + Itinerary! Free Download
• Fear of Cruising? You’re Fears are Probably all Wrong
• First Time Cruising? Let’s Put Your Mind at Ease
• Prone to Seasickness? Choosing the Right Cabin Matters!

Day 5: MSC World America
Cozumel Cruise Port VLOG

So, Where Exactly is the Cozumel Cruise Port?

Cozumel is an island sitting off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, and the Cozumel cruise port is where the big ships like ours pull in.

It’s a popular stop on a lot of Caribbean itineraries, and once you arrive, you understand why cruise lines keep bringing people here. The water is that unreal turquoise colour you only think exists in filtered photos, and the island itself has a laid back, tropical energy.

Cozumel is internationally recognized as a diving hotspot, and honestly, that part of its reputation is well earned. Underneath all that gorgeous water is a whole ecosystem of marine life, including exotic fish, sea turtles, dolphins and yes, even sharks.

If diving or snorkelling is on your bucket list, the Cozumel cruise port is probably going to be one of the better places to check that box. We didn’t dive this time around, but I could absolutely see why people build entire trips around it.

The Basics: Population, Language and Money

Cozumel has a population of around 100,000 people, so it’s not tiny, but it’s also not some sprawling metropolis. Both Spanish and English are spoken pretty widely, especially anywhere near the cruise terminal and the shopping areas, so communication generally isn’t a huge issue.

As for money, you’ve got options. The local currency is the Mexican peso, but US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere near the port, and credit cards work in most of the shops too. I’d still recommend having a bit of cash on you, which becomes very relevant later in this story.

Oh, and taxis. My goodness, the taxis. I don’t think I have ever seen so many taxis in my life as I did at the Cozumel cruise port. They are absolutely everywhere and readily available the second you step outside.

Why the Cozumel Cruise Port Was My Least Favourite Stop

Okay, here’s where I have to be honest with you. Out of every port that I’ve been to (and I’ve been to many over the course of many sailings), the Cozumel cruise port was my least favourite, and it came down to one thing:

the hustle culture is intense.

I mean relentless. You cannot walk two steps without someone trying to get you into their shop, sell you something, or wave you over for a “special deal, just for you, my friend.” As you can see in my video, the new phrase is now “Come and let me rip you off“.

I mean, I get it, this is how they make their money, it doesn’t bother my husband at all, he can hear this all day and will barter back because he loves it, and I guess it boils down to the type of person you are. And I am not my husband.

The terminal itself is basically designed to funnel you straight into an outdoor mall. You’re taken up escalators and staircases, through a maze of vendors that you’re essentially fighting off for a solid 15 minutes, and then back down again just to finally reach the shoreline. And once you’re there? You get hit with another wave of solicitors, coming at you from every angle, for what feels like miles and blocks on end.

It’s a lot. I’m not usually a crying baby, but just warning you, if this is your stop, be prepared.

Finding the Real Cozumel (Past the Chaos)

We ended up walking for about half an hour before the harassment finally died down and we reached what I’d call the “innards” of the city, the part where actual locals live and go about their day. It was quieter, less aggressive, but also kind of strange in a different way. Suddenly we weren’t tourists being chased down anymore, we were just… there, in someone’s neighbourhood, feeling a bit out of place, but I loved it.

It’s a weird contrast. The tourist zone near the Cozumel cruise port is loud, pushy and completely built around getting money out of your pocket, and then a thirty minute walk later, you’re in a totally different world that has nothing to do with cruise ships at all. Just a gentler pace, dogs running around and locals just doing their thing.

The Heat Nearly Took Us Out

Now let’s talk about the heat, because this deserves its own section. It was another brutal day and if I didn’t think it could get anywhere worse than our previous stop in Costa Maya and Honduras, I was sadly mistaken.

My friend actually nearly fainted. She had to duck into a store just for the air conditioning, purely as a survival tactic. As for me, I couldn’t handle it either. I didn’t last nearly as long as I wanted to before I had to tap out and grab a taxi that was, I kid you not, only two blocks away from the ship. Two blocks. I physically could not walk it.

My older son came along with me for that taxi ride because he didn’t want me hopping into an unfamiliar taxi in an unfamiliar city on my own, even though we could see the ship the entire time and it was such a short distance. Moms get looked after too sometimes, apparently.

The $10 Taxi and the Great Change Hunt

The ride cost 10 USD, which is a lot for two blocks, but when your body is staging a heat related protest, you pay it and you don’t complain. The only hiccup was that we needed change, and our driver didn’t have any on him, so he had to go find some of his taxi driver friends to help break the bill. A whole production for two blocks, but that’s Cozumel for you.

This is where I’ll give myself a small pat on the back. I’d been learning Spanish on Duolingo for about a year at that point, and having even a handful of phrases and words in my back pocket made these little interactions so much smoother. If you’re not there yet with the language, don’t stress, Google Translate is your best friend.

Shopping at the Cozumel Cruise Port

If you’ve shopped in any other Mexican cruise destination, you already know what you’re getting here. Same trinkets, same souvenirs, same shot glasses and magnets you’ve seen in every port along the way. Nothing wrong with that if you’re collecting, but don’t expect anything wildly different from what you’d find elsewhere.

Catch the Vlog

I filmed the whole experience for my vlog, escalators, vendors, heat and all, so if you want to actually see what I’m describing here instead of just reading about it, go watch it. It captures the chaos way better than words can. Video is above!

Final Thoughts on the Cozumel Cruise Port

If there’s one thing this trip taught me, it’s that the older I get, the less heat I can tolerate. That’s just the truth now, and I’m making peace with it.

Would I go back to the Cozumel cruise port? I don’t know, but I’d plan it differently next time. I’d get through the vendor maze faster, I’d bring more water, and I’d probably schedule an excursion that gets me out of the main tourist strip sooner rather than later. The diving and the marine life sound incredible, and if that’s your focus, I think this port has a lot to offer. As a walk around and explore kind of stop though, it just wasn’t my favourite.

Have you been to the Cozumel cruise port? Let me know if your experience matched mine, or if I just had an unlucky day. I’d love to hear about it.

And don’t forget, I’ve got a free downloadable PDF that will no doubt help you pack and plan more efficiently for your cruise!

Things to do in Cozumel, Mexico

Disclaimer*: Booking through Viator is a great way to explore beyond the cruise line’s offerings, often with more flexibility, unique experiences and generally much cheaper. However, it’s important review: pickup location, proximity from the cruise port, excursion timing, travel time and return time to ensure everything aligns with your ship’s “all aboard time”. Cruise ships will not wait for passengers delayed on independent excursions. All third-party excursions are your responsibility.

Read Next in the Series
MSC World America ~ Western Caribbean

Click here to see my Eastern Caribbean Itinerary!